Steven Gerrard Cites Real Madrid Axe for Liverpool Exit, Talks Luis Suarez, More

Steven Gerrard has admitted being dropped for Liverpool's Champions League clash with Real Madrid forced him "into making a decision to move on and try something different."

The departing Reds captain will link up with MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in July, bringing an end to his 18-year playing association with the Anfield club. Although Gerrard started the 3-0 home loss to Madrid on Oct. 22, manager Brendan Rodgers dropped him for the 1-0 loss in Spain on Nov. 4.

In a new documentary filmed by BT Sport, Gerrard told former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand that this provoked the decision for him to move on, reported the Daily Mail: 

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This was round about the time when I was doing a lot of thinking about what’s next because I’d had a couple of chats with Brendan saying he was going to start managing my games—‘I have to look after you and I want you to be fresh and I don’t want you to be playing three games in a week because you may be tired’—and stuff like that.

But this situation was unique because it was Real Madrid and I wanted to play. When I was told I wasn’t playing for the sake of the team, because of my relationship with Brendan, I took it and I accepted it. But I sat on that bench devastated because I wanted to play. It pushed me into making a decision to move on and try something different.

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The 35-year-old made 38 appearances across the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup during the 2014-15 season, scoring 13 goals in the process. Despite slowing down in recent years—Gerrard hasn't been the gut-busting central midfielder he once was for some time—the former England captain is still an excellent passer of the ball, a hard tackler and a goal threat.

However, Liverpool's sixth-placed finish, down from second the year before, was defined by the lack of attacking quality after Luis Suarez was sold to Barcelona last summer. Sky Sports highlighted the side's troubles:

While Suarez racked up a famous treble during his debut season with the Blaugrana, Liverpool's progress halted. Gerrard's answer was unequivocal when asked if Liverpool adequately managed to replace Suarez, per the Daily Mail:

"No—but it was mission impossible for me. Even initially after Fernando Torres it was difficult to go and replace him straight away," said Gerrard. "Suarez came out of the blue. I didn’t really know much about him, but he was a phenomenal player."

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Gerrard believes an "endless amount of cash" is needed to find a replacement of Suarez's quality. "And then does that player want to come with no Champions League football?" he asks. However, he believes a certain injury-prone star can perform to Suarez's level for the club.

"(Daniel) Sturridge is an unbelievable player. He's got just as much ability as Torres and Suarez but we can't get him consistently on the pitch," noted Gerrard.

Gerrard believes he "underachieved at times" and went on to discuss his infamous slip against Chelsea during the 13-14 campaign. With Liverpool on the brink of the title, Gerrard's tumble allowed former Blues striker Demba Ba to lead Jose Mourinho's men beyond the Reds at Anfield.

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A 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace followed, in which Liverpool threw away a 3-0 lead, leading to the side finishing two points behind Premier League winners Manchester City. Gerrard's slip continues to haunt him, per Kevin Palmer of the Sunday World:

The ESPN FC team, tweeted by talkFOOTBALL, discussed his comments in full:

Gerrard leaves Merseyside as a club hero and all-time Premier League great. Granted, he never won the English title and had plenty of opportunities to head elsewhere for success, but his commitment to the Liverpool cause cannot be doubted. He is a captain, leader and an immensely difficult star for Rodgers to replace.

It would be interesting to hear whether the manager regrets not starting him against Madrid. Gerrard suggests he was on the brink of making a decision to leave and that this pushed him over the edge. Perhaps he would be opening the 15-16 season with an away game at Stoke City if he was allowed to start at the Bernabeu.